Colon Cancer Screening Options

Early diagnosis of colon cancer is the key to surviving the disease. When detected in its early stages through screening tests, 90% of colon cancer cases are preventable, treatable, and beatable.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends the following tests for colorectal cancer screening: colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, and at-home stool testing.

Colonoscopy. This procedure is considered the gold standard for detection of colon cancer. During a colonoscopy, your gastroenterologist uses a scope to look at the inside of your colon for polyps or evidence of cancer. Your doctor will talk with you about sedation options to make the procedure as comfortable as possible. If polyps are found, they are removed during the exam and sent to a lab for further examination. The exam takes about 30 minutes to complete, and requires a full colon cleansing on the day before the test. The colon prep is considered to be the most difficult part of the procedure. There are things you can do, however, to make your prep day more tolerable. Colonoscopies are also used as a follow-up test if anything unusual is found during another screening test.

How often: With normal results, a colonoscopy screening is repeated every 10 years. The test may be repeated more often if a polyp is found or family history warrants more frequent testing. Follow your doctor’s recommendations.

CT Colonography (or virtual colonoscopy). The screening test uses a special x-ray to examine the colon for polyps or cancer. It also requires a complete colon prep, but does not require sedation. If evidence of polyps or cancer is found, a follow-up colonoscopy may be recommended.

How often: With normal results, a virtual colonoscopy is repeated every 5 years.

Sigmoidoscopy. Like a colonoscopy, your doctor might recommend a sigmoidoscopy to look for polyps or evidence of cancer. During this test, however, the doctor only examines the rectum and part of the colon. A sigmoidoscopy takes only 10-20 minutes to complete, and requires a full colon cleansing the day before the test. If evidence of cancer is found, a colonoscopy is generally recommended so that the physician can look at the entire colon for signs of disease.

How often:Every five years with FIT/FOBT every three years.

At Home Tests. These tests detect abnormalities in your stool and can be done in the privacy of your home. Return the test kit to your health care provider where samples are checked for the presence of blood or cancer cells. If evidence of blood or cancer cells are found, further testing (including a colonoscopy) becomes necessary.

High Sensitivity Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT). The FOBT is one of the most common tests used to screen for colon cancer by checking for blood in the stool.

How often: once a year.

DNA Stool Test.(i.e. Cologuard) This relatively new at-home test detects hemoglobin (proteins in blood) in stool samples. The FDA approved test can also detect certain DNA mutations in cells shed by advanced adenomas as stool moves through the large intestine and rectum.

Your health care provider can provide more information about the best test for you based on your health history, symptoms, and risk level. Current guidelines suggest that patients over the age of 50 with an average risk for developing colon cancer should begin screening for the disease.

Don’t wait until you are 50 to talk to your doctor about screening! Reasons to get screened for colon cancer also include:

If you have been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis).

If your parents or immediate family members have had polyps, talk to your doctor about starting screening at an age 10 years before their polyps were discovered.

If you have a family history of colon cancer or a genetic syndrome like Lynch syndrome (hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer) or FAP (familial adenomatous polyposis).

Important! If you feel your concerns are being ignored by your current physician, don’t be afraid to seek a second opinion and continue to request screening. You are your own best advocate and should feel empowered to take control of your health.